The Official Rudy Gobert Thread

[TimberKat]

I just read this from other sites: Wolves' Rudy Gobert is Only NBA Player on Top-15 Contract to Make Conference Finals.

You can say He is being carried by Ant and Towns but the other 14 top contracts also have other stars on the team too. There is got to be something to the effect of Gobert's game is not pretty (except for one fadeaway jumper per year), but does translate to team winning.

[BlacJacMac]

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[BlacJacMac]

Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert trade not only aged better than anyone predicted, it created a monster in Minnesota

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/timberwolves-rudy-gobert-trade-not-only-aged-better-than-anyone-predicted-it-created-a-monster-in-minnesota/

[Klomp]

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[Folklore]

So what's going on with the restructuring of this guys contract? If he doesn't help the team by getting this done soon we should just trade him to Detroit.

[Saltine]

he's a bit busy right now...

[winforlose]

So what's going on with the restructuring of this guys contract? If he doesn't help the team by getting this done soon we should just trade him to Detroit.

What are the rules with that? I know he has a player option next year. When can he waive it or opt out or whatever the mechanism is to extend?

[Saltine]

They have until June 29 2025 to figure something out, so it's a wee bit early to demand that something be done
page 249...
https://imgix.cosmicjs.com/25da5eb0-15eb-11ee-b5b3-fbd321202bdf-Final-2023-NBA-Collective-Bargaining-Agreement-6-28-23.pdf

I imagine Tim will suggest something like 3 years ~$102 million (31,34,37). His $46.6 million next year will cost more than that in taxes...

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/player/_/id/13340/rudy-gobert

[shrink]

So what's going on with the restructuring of this guys contract? If he doesn't help the team by getting this done soon we should just trade him to Detroit.

What are the rules with that? I know he has a player option next year. When can he waive it or opt out or whatever the mechanism is to extend?

Players will have specific dates written into their contracts when they need to decide whether they will pick up an option for next year. Generally these dates lead deep into the off-season, but before June 30, and the team and player can renegotiate that date. A player can request an extension two years after the day they sign a contract, and only deals of 3-4 years can be extended. Gobert fits both those criteria right now.

For the record, the CBA uses the word “restructuring” in a very specific sense. Teams can only restructure a current deal if both the player and team agree to rip up the current contract and the team has enough cap space to pay the player what they want. This is what Jimmy Butler wanted us to do (which would have meant foolishly cutting many of our players to get that far under the cap to offer him a max!), and what we might see Utah do with Lauri Markannen later this summer.

[Klomp]

Reason not to extend: The year after his option lines up with the chance for Ant to recruit Kevin Durant to Minnesota

[winforlose]

Reason not to extend: The year after his option lines up with the chance for Ant to recruit Kevin Durant to Minnesota

With what money? Just because Rudy is off the books doesn’t mean we have money to sign KD. Also Rudy would decline the option with the understanding that a different option is on the table. Otherwise we pay him the full amount next year, then risk losing him for nothing.

[Klomp]

Reason not to extend: The year after his option lines up with the chance for Ant to recruit Kevin Durant to Minnesota

With what money? Just because Rudy is off the books doesn’t mean we have money to sign KD. Also Rudy would decline the option with the understanding that a different option is on the table. Otherwise we pay him the full amount next year, then risk losing him for nothing.

We currently have around $144 million allocated for 2026-27 to 6 players. No it doesn't include Naz Reid for example, but there's more than enough room to operate under the projected $215 million FIRST apron that summer.

[winforlose]

Reason not to extend: The year after his option lines up with the chance for Ant to recruit Kevin Durant to Minnesota

With what money? Just because Rudy is off the books doesn’t mean we have money to sign KD. Also Rudy would decline the option with the understanding that a different option is on the table. Otherwise we pay him the full amount next year, then risk losing him for nothing.

We currently have around $144 million allocated for 2026-27 to 6 players. No it doesn't include Naz Reid for example, but there's more than enough room to operate under the projected $215 million FIRST apron that summer.

How does that bring in Durant?

[KGdaBom]

RealGM Wiretap
Tim Connelly Wants Wolves To Keep Rudy Gobert 'For A Long Time'
Sep 3, 2024 8:59 AM

Tim Connelly Wants Wolves To Keep Rudy Gobert 'For A Long Time'
Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly joined Darren Wolfson for an interview from the Minnesota State Fair. Connelly touched on a wide range of topics, including Wolves center Rudy Gobert.
Gobert is eligible to sign a contract extension with Minnesota. Without getting into specifics, the Wolves front office leader said he hopes Gobert is with the team for years to come.

"We’d like Rudy to be here for a long time. We love his agent, he’s been a friend for a long time and is one of the best guys in the league. And certainly our goal with most of these guys is to keep them here as long as they want to be here," Connelly said. "Ideally, I think continuity is going to be one of the better strengths we have going into the season and we really like our core group."

During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Gobert was reportedly dealing with a finger injury. Connelly said that the veteran center is "good to go" with NBA training camp on the horizon.

[minimus]

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[TimberKat]

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6 for 21 is very good. Gobert had improved a lot in that area last year. Unfortunately, many people only remember the one Luka made to win the game.

If some how we could also make him a little more effective on the offensive side would be great - better lob to him or if he can shoot a baby hook (or something). It's never too late to learn new tricks.

[FrenchMinnyFan]

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6 for 21 is very good. Gobert had improved a lot in that area last year. Unfortunately, many people only remember the one Luka made to win the game.

If some how we could also make him a little more effective on the offensive side would be great - better lob to him or if he can shoot a baby hook (or something). It's never too late to learn new tricks.

That's exactly the point. People in this new world remember only the headline, not the job done before. I think Rudy may be a bit better offensively, i found the connection with KAT much better last year and hopefully the one with ANT will improve too.
ANT has a lot of progress to do in the ball handling part but he is so talented that i have no doubt he will. Future look bright and this year will be our year. Mark my word !

[Dewey]

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6 for 21 is very good. Gobert had improved a lot in that area last year. Unfortunately, many people only remember the one Luka made to win the game.

If some how we could also make him a little more effective on the offensive side would be great - better lob to him or if he can shoot a baby hook (or something). It's never too late to learn new tricks.

He is what he is … no reason we cannot improve around him

[minimus]

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6 for 21 is very good. Gobert had improved a lot in that area last year. Unfortunately, many people only remember the one Luka made to win the game.

If some how we could also make him a little more effective on the offensive side would be great - better lob to him or if he can shoot a baby hook (or something). It's never too late to learn new tricks.

He is what he is … no reason we cannot improve around him

There was a good discussion on twitter, about Sam Hauser defense and how BOS used it. In a nutshell Hauser was often labeled as "weakest" point by opponent who tried to get a matchup and attack him, however both Hauser and BOS palyers and coaching staff were prepared for this and it was actually a "good matchup" for them. I remember GSW was doing the same with Steph Curry using him as trap.

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Now back to Gobert. MIN also often leave him on an island against perimeter stars, and adjust team defense accordingly. Sometimes it is more effective than drop. And it makes more sense than hedging because Gobert is not quick guy. Yes, sometimes Gobert will end up in "lowlights against Luke", but thats the risk.

To sum up, first Gobert is already a big part of MIN defensive strategy, which was #1 defense last season by a mile. Second, MIN already a pretty advanced in terms of defensive tactic and strategy. Finally, I believe that MIN can still improve a lot around Gobert. I remember MIL defense around Lopez. One thing that that MIL defensive group did well was minimizing corner threes by giving up some above break threes. They did it by doing their homework and knowing players strength and weaknesses. Players and coaches KNEW who from opponent players shot well from above the break. DAL role players PJ Washington and Derrick Jones Jr. shot 40.5% from corner threes and only 29.2% from above the break. So doing better homework will help our rotations.

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[TimberKat]

I haven't checked the stats but do think the above the break 3s are the worse 3 pt shots. I give those up to most players.